Rivalry heats up as Dodgers lose to Giants

The Giants' Buster Posey #28 is out at 2nd as the Dodgers' Dee Gordon #9 jumps out of the way for a double play during their game at Dodger Stadium Friday, May 9, 2014. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

The Dodgers lost for the second straight night to their northern rivals Friday at Dodger Stadium. Yasiel Puig caused a minor stir.

The 3-1 win might have been business as usual for the San Francisco Giants too, were it not for an 87-mph fastball that got away from Dodgers starter Paul Maholm.

In the second inning, Maholm (1-3) hit Brandon Belt with a pitch that broke Belt’s left thumb. Belt, who’s played every game but one this season, is tied for second in the National League with nine home runs.

“I was trying to throw a sinker down and away,” Maholm said. “First pitch of the inning. I missed by about 2 feet. It’s not like I mind throwing inside, or missing inside, but you don’t ever want to see a guy get hurt. you don’t ever want to see those things happen.

“It was unintentional. Unfortunately that’s probably one of the worst spots a hitter can get hit.”

Belt is scheduled to see a specialist in San Francisco today.

A solo home run by Puig accounted for the Dodgers’ offense before an announced crowd of 49,171.

Bumgarner apparently took offense to Puig flipping his bat after the home run, a typical celebration for the flamboyant star. The left-hander came off the mound to shout something in Puig’s direction.

“It surprised me a little bit he was there after the home run,” said Puig, who either didn’t know or didn’t want to share what Bumgarner yelled. “I may have done something he didn’t like. From my perspective it’s part of the game.”

Giants catcher Buster Posey told Puig to move along. Puig went back to the dugout without further incident.

Depending on who you talked to after the game, Bumgarner’s outburst was either completely justified or a gross overreaction.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked if he had “any sense” what caused Bumgarner’s reaction.

“Any sense? I think we all know what caused it,” Bochy said. “Like any competitor these guys get upset when they think they’re getting showed up. The bat flipping, these things, a lot of pitchers are getting upset about it.”

Maholm, who surrendered a home run to Puig last year when he was pitching for the Atlanta Braves, had a more measured take.

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“There’s a lot of guys who are like that throughout the league,” Maholm said. “They do stuff during the game that, I think once you play with them, you find out it’s pretty harmless. I don’t think he’s out there showing anybody up. He’s playing the game hard. He has fun.”

Added Mattingly: “It always surprises me when guys react to things when their team does the same type stuff. It’s always the double standard.”

When the next batter, Hanley Ramirez, swung and missed at Bumgarner’s next pitch, Mattingly decided he’d seen enough. He said something to home plate umpire Will Little loud and vile enough to earn his 13th career ejection.

Maholm allowed a two-run home run to Brandon Crawford among three hits in 5 2/3 innings. he also walked four batters. All three runs were earned, bringing his earned-run average to 4.71 -- easily the highest among Dodger starters.

In 36 1/3 innings, the veteran left-hander has walked more batters (15) than he’s struck out (14).

Bumgarner added to the Dodgers’ woes against left-handed pitching. Other than Puig’s home run, the Dodgers got only a double from Justin Turner and two singles from Matt Kemp before Sergio Romo pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 12th save.

The final score could have been worse.

San Francisco loaded the bases against right-hander Brandon League in the seventh inning. Nobody was warming up in the bullpen as League escaped his own jam, getting a ground-ball double play and a flyout from Buster Posey to end the inning without allowing a run.

League pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last nine games.